Principles for lumber advocacy
A new year brings a revised policy agenda for the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. Unchanged is the association’s emphasis on rolling back regulatory burdens on business.
In a letter to policy makers that serves as an introduction to the 2018 National Policy Agenda, NLBMDA Chairman Rick Lierz of Boise, Id.-based Franklin Building Supply described some of the new points of emphasis, which range from roaring wild fires to raging trade disputes. He also promoted one of the new favored bills of the LBM industry – the Timber Innovation Act.
“Technological advances in wood building products, including mass timber, have created new opportunities for wood-framed construction of mid-rise buildings,” wrote Lierz. “Congress should pass the Timber Innovation Act, which establishes a performance-driven research and development program to advance tall wood building construction in the U.S.”
The threat from more and more destructive wild fires demonstrates the need for responsible forest management policies, he said.
“The frequency and intensity of wild res in recent years demonstrates the need for responsible forest management policies that promote environmental sustainability. … NLBMDA supports legislation that encourages responsible federal forest management, maintains access to domestic wood, and supports the health and viability of our public forests,” he said.
And given the importance of Canadian lumber to the U.S. market, Lierz stated the NLBDMA’s opposition to duties, and support for a long-term deal.
“NLBMDA opposes duties on Canadian imports, which are a lackluster substitute for a new agreement, and supports the two sides reaching a long-term deal that brings predictability and stability to softwood lumber supply and prices,” he wrote.
Among the bedrock principles that return to the associations guiding policy document are the following:
On tax policy: NLBMDA supports the mortgage interest deduction and opposes efforts that would eliminate or substantially modify it.
On legal reform: NLBMDA supports the Innocent Sellers Fairness Act (H.R. 1118) and other liability reform legislation that would preserve victims’ access to courts while holding sellers harmless when they have not acted negligently in the design, manufacture, sale, or installation of a legal product.
On workforce policy: NLBMDA supports mandatory use of E-Verify by employers to reduce paperwork burdens, but believes that any requirement should have an appropriate phase-in period for small businesses.
The full 2018 Policy Agenda is available here.
“NLBMDA looks forward to working with the White House and Congress in 2018 to pass common-sense, pro-growth policies and reduce regulatory burdens to keep the building supply industry and our nation’s economy on a path of sustained growth,” said Lierz in his letter.